Plant defense in response to chewing insects: proteome analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana damaged by Plutella xylostella

The interactions between Arabidopsis thaliana and Plutella xylostella have been considered as a model system to unravel the responses of plants to herbivorous insects. Here, we use a 2-DE proteome approach to detect protein expression changes in the leaves of Arabidopsis plants exposed to P. xylostella larval infestation at 27°C within 8?h. Approximately 450 protein spots were reproducibly detected on gels. Of these, comparing healthy and infested leaves, we identified 18 differentially expressed protein spots. Thirteen proteins were successfully identified by MALDI-TOF/MS and LC-ESI-MS/MS. Functional classification analysis indicated that the differentially identified proteins were associated with amino acid, carbohydrate, energy, lipid metabolism, and photosynthesis. In addition, their relative abundances were assessed according to larval pest feeding on Arabidopsis leaves. These data provide valuable new insights for further works in plant-biotic and environmental stress interaction.     

Temperature regimes and aphid density interactions differentially influence VOC emissions in Arabidopsis

The effects of volatile emissions from plants exposed to individual abiotic and biotic stresses are well documented. However, the influence of multiple stresses on plant photosynthesis and defense responses, resulting in a variety of volatile profiles has received little attention. In this study, we investigated how temperature regimes in the presence and absence of the sucking insect Myzus persicae affected volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in Arabidopsis over three time periods (0–24, 24–48, and 48–72 h). Headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to evaluate Arabidopsis VOCs. The results showed that under laboratory conditions, eight volatile classes [alcohols (mainly 2-ethyl-hexan-1-ol), ketone (6-methyl hept-5-en-2-one), esters (mainly (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate), aldehydes (mainly phenylacetaldehyde), isothiocyanates (mainly 4-methylpentyl isothiocyanate), terpenes (mainly (E,E)-α-farnesene), nitrile (5-(methylthio) pentanenitrile), and sulfide (dimethyl trisulfide)] were observed on plants exposed to stress combinations, whereas emissions of six volatile classes were observed during temperature stress treatments alone (with the exception of nitriles and sulfides). Aphid density at high temperature combinations resulted in significantly higher isothiocyanate, ester, nitrile, and sulfide proportions. The results of the present study provide an insight into the effects of temperature–aphid interactions on plant volatile emissions.     

DNA polymerase gamma mutations that impair holoenzyme stability cause catalytic subunit depletion

Mutations in POLG, encoding POLγA, the catalytic subunit of the mitochondrial DNA polymerase, cause a spectrum of disorders characterized by mtDNA instability. However, the molecular pathogenesis of POLG-related diseases is poorly understood and efficient treatments are missing. Here, we generate the Polg^A449T/A449T mouse model, which reproduces the A467T change, the most common human recessive mutation of POLG. We show that the mouse A449T mutation impairs DNA binding and mtDNA synthesis activities of POLγ, leading to a stalling phenotype. Most importantly, the A449T mutation also strongly impairs interactions with POLγB, the accessory subunit of the POLγ holoenzyme. This allows the free POLγA to become a substrate for LONP1 protease degradation, leading to dramatically reduced levels of POLγA in A449T mouse tissues. Therefore, in addition to its role as a processivity factor, POLγB acts to stabilize POLγA and to prevent LONP1-dependent degradation. Notably, we validated this mechanism for other disease-associated mutations affecting the interaction between the two POLγ subunits. We suggest that targeting POLγA turnover can be exploited as a target for the development of future therapies.